Aggressive, sexy-looking coupe will be available as a high-performance R model

With that, and a dramatic sweep of his hand, Ian Callum introduced his latest design, the 2014 Jaguar F-Type Coupe.
Postmedia was among a small group of automotive outlets granted a special sneak peek of the highly anticipated coupe on the eve of the Los Angeles Auto Show, where Callum’s inspired sports car was set to make its global debut during the show’s first press day.

Ian Callum, director of design, Jaguar was on hand to celebrate the global debut of the 2015 Jaguar F-TYPE R Coupe, Jaguar’s most performance focused vehicle ever, at an exclusive event held at Raleigh Studios on November 19, 2013 in Playa Vista City.

“It’s been an emotional journey for me,” the legendary Scottish car designer admitted in Hanger 8 at the Santa Monica Airport, the fitting locale for the special showing of the svelte and aerodynamic two-seater. “It’s the car I’ve wanted to design since I joined Jaguar 15 years ago.”

In a break from traditional sports car building, the convertible version of the F-Type was first out of the gate; though the coupe is hardly an afterthought. The convertible, introduced globally earlier this year, has been both a critical and sales success so far, and one look at the coupe and it’s not difficult to envision some squirming executives in the Porsche executive suites back in Stuttgart.

The Jaguar F-Type Coupe

“We had no idea how the coupe would look once we’d completed the convertible,” Callum continued, though he did say the Jaguar C-X16 concept did provide some guidance in areas such as finishing off the rear-end of the coupe.

The coupe shares much with the convertible, particularly in the cabin and including deployable spoiler and door handles. And like the drop-top, the coupe benefits greatly from Jaguar’s Advanced Aluminum Architecture, the lightweight yet incredibly strong aluminum body and chassis structures that are at the core of all new Jaguar and Range Rover models.

The Jaguar F-Type Coupe

This proprietary technology has put Jaguar Land Rover at the forefront of the aluminum revolution in auto manufacturing, and nowhere better are its dual attributes of light weight and high strength put to use than in the new F-Type Coupe. These include single piece aluminum body sides and hydroformed roof beams, the latter responsible for giving the coupe such an elegant, yet stiff, roofline. In fact, the coupe is the stiffest Jaguar ever made.

It’s also among the quickest, particularly the R model. Your read that right: the F-Type coupe is available as an R, Jaguar’s designation for its high-performance vehicles. That translates to 550 horsepower from a supercharged 5.0-litre V8, sprinting the coupe from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 4.2 seconds and a reported top speed of 300 km/h. Stopping, always important with such numbers under your right foot, comes thanks to optional carbon ceramic brakes. Other R goodies include special tuning, torque vectoring steering – a first for Jaguar – and the second generation electronic active differential.

The Jaguar F-Type Coupe

The base model boasts a not-too-shabby 3.0-litre V6, producing 340 ponies through the eight-speed quickshift gearbox en route to a 5.3 second dash to 100 km/h and a top speed of 260 km/h.

In the middle is the F-Type S Coupe, featuring a supercharged V6 (380 hp), a top speed of 275 km/h and a sub-five second zero to 100 km/h time. Carbon ceramic brakes are also available as an option on the S.

Other notable options include a glass roof and power rear hatch, available on all three models.

The new F-Type Coupe’s interior.

Golfers should take note that unlike the convertible, two sets of golf clubs will fit in the 407-litre trunk, though you will have to take your woods out and store them tip to stern.

Canadian pricing will be announced at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto in February, but U.S. pricing is as follows: V6, $65,000; S, $77,000; and R, $99,000.

The F-Type Coupe will go on sale in North America in April.

A Crossover Cat

Callum pulled double duty during the presentation in Hanger 8, as before the F-Type Coupe reveal he showed off Jaguar’s latest concept, one that if you are the betting type, would be worth putting money down on it one day sooner rather than later making the leap from concept to production vehicle.

“Who would have believed it – a crossover from Jaguar,” Callum cracked of the C-X17, admitting that if you would have told him five years ago that the esteemed marque would dabble in the SUV market he’d have called you daft.

Jaguar unveiled its C-X17 crossover concept in L.A.

“But as we’ve seen in the U.S. and Chinese markets, to be successful we need to change,” he noted of the ever-evolving appetite for crossovers. “Some of these younger people don’t even know what sports cars are.”

The C-X17 borrows some subtle signature cues from the F-Type design language, particularly around the rear light arrays and the front fender lines.

Callum explained his vision was for a “sports crossover” and one look at the athletic lines and stance of the C-X17 reveals the noted designer, as usual, has achieved his goal.